Stepdad charged after toddler's death waives hearing

HAMPTON – The stepfather of a 19-month-old boy who died this month waived his probable cause hearing Wednesday, facing drug and child endangerment charges following the child’s death.

Leo Witham, 30, of Hampton, appeared in Seabrook District Court to waive his hearing. He is still being held in Rockingham County House of Corrections on $25,000 cash bail. Police believe Witham’s stepson, Bradyn J.M. Brewer, may have ingested fentanyl left accessible to him at 86 Ashworth Ave., leading to his death Oct. 5, though toxicology results confirming that have not been released.

Witham pleaded not guilty last week to one charge of endangering the welfare of a child for allegedly leaving packaging containing fentanyl “open and accessible to the child.” He is also charged with one count each of possession of a controlled drug – Lorazepam – and falsifying physical evidence. He was arrested two days after Brewer’s death. Witham is alleged to have hidden the Lorazepam under a blanket in the child’s bed while he knew the death was being investigated.

Hampton police said at the time of Witham’s arrest that Brewer died at 86 Ashworth Ave., the address of the Westport Hotel, though Brewer’s obituary stated the boy died at Exeter Hospital.

Family and friends of Witham appeared at the courthouse to support him Wednesday.

Shirley Owen, who identified herself as Witham's grandmother, said through tears outside the courthouse how she mourned Brewer and was devastated by his death and Witham’s arrest. She said Brewer was like a great-grandchild to her, and Witham more like a son than a grandson.

She recalled one visit with Brewer two days before his death when the toddler hugged her, a memory she said is now “treasured.”

“That little one gave me a big hug and a kiss. … I put my head back, and smiled and I said ‘Wow, he loves me,’” Owen said. “I had that moment to share with that little guy that I’ll never erase out of my mind.”

While police have not confirmed Bradyn’s death was caused by a drug, Owen said she attributes the toddler's death to the current opioid addiction crisis and the negative environment she believes it has brought to the beach.

“Somebody sold somebody something. Let’s put it that way,” Owen said. “It just doesn’t take much to figure it out.

"The beach is rough right now. I see it, you can see it. Needles on grounds and everything. It’s awful. That’s why I left the beach, and I wanted Leo to eventually get the hell out of there.”

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